London: John Murray, (1840). First edition of this impressively beautiful folio of thirty plates illustrating the author's theories about Norman architecture in Sicily. Henry Gally Knight (1786-1846) was a member of parliament, traveler, and writer. After early unsuccessful attempts to write poetry, he studied and wrote about architecture. He made tours of Sicily and Normandy to study the architecture of those regions. Knight wrote in his preface: "It is the object of this Work to afford a view of the Architecture of the Normans in Sicily, of the singular difference of the style which they employed in Sicily from that which they employed in any other country, and to explain how that difference arose. The Drawings were taken from the buildings themselves by a professional architect and have, at least, the merit of exact fidelity." He believed that the Normans adopted the pointed arches of Sicily rather than building the round arches of France. The stunning lithographic plates include illustrations of landscapes, buildings, details of exteriors and interiors and doors. Three of the plates are hand-colored. Bound in contemporary three quarter black leather with multi-colored marble boards. Leather is chipped, rubbed, and bumped. Gilt ruling and titling to spine. Marbled boards are scuffed and rubbed. Evidence of label having been removed from spine and glue remains from signout card on rear free endpaper. Light spotting to interior pages generally not affecting images. The front pastedown provides some provenance information. Bookplate of Frances Mary R Richardson Currer (1785-1861), A British heiress and important book collector in her time. She died at Eshton Hall [Wikipedia]. There is a handwritten note affixed under her bookplate saying the book was bought by Sir John Horsfall at the sale of the Eshton Hall collection at Christie's London 1916. Given by Sir John to Mr. FW Petty, Given by Mr. Petty to Geo Turner Conoley (?) in 1916. A very good copy. Measures 15 x 22 inches. Pages 1-6 with preface, list and description of plates. All plates present without original tissue guards. ARCH/042021.

Item #35052

Price: $2,200.00